A young women and her family searches 
or a better education in the US

Interviewee: Robyn Mahoso
Interviewer: Charles Taylor
Date: December 9, 1999
 

What is your full name?

Robyn Mahoso

What is your nationality?

African

What is your date of birth?

August 27, 1982.

Where were you born?

Zimbabwe, Africa.

When did you (move to the U.S./move from somewhere else in the U.S.) to Philadelphia?

June of 1995.

Why did you leave your country/State/former place of residence?

Because the school system is better as far as college.

What did you like/dislike about your home/country?

I like the weather there.

Why did you choose Philadelphia/U.S?

Because my mom and dad went to college in Philly.

How did you travel here?/What type of transportation did you use/take to travel here?

By airplane.

How did you find a place to live in Philly?

My sister helped my mom look for a place, because my sister already lived in Philly

With whom did you travel? [Who did you travel with?]

My older brother, my mom and younger brother.

Give I thing you remember most about your home town and why?

I remember the weather there.

How did your life change when you moved and what were the differences between the two places?

My life changed because I got to see both sides of the world.

What did you expect about the US/Philly?

I expected it to be different, and expected the weather to be different like the snow.

What did you come here to accomplish and what else do you feel you still need to do?

To go to college.

What are the differences between when you came here and now?

I got to see people of different cultures.

What did you sacrifice/leave behind when you left?

My mom sacrificed a good job.

What problems did you encounter coming to the US/Philly?

I had a British accent and people teased me about how I talked.

How much money did you have and where did you get it when you came to Philly/US?

We got our money from when we rented out our house in Africa.

How did you adapt to your new environment?

It took a good couple of years to get use to.

Why do you think it was worth all your changes?

Because I have a better chance of making something of myself in the future.

What education did you have before/after you arrived?

Our schooling system back home was totally different because I was already in high school and when I came to Philly I had to go back to junior high because of my age.

Do you [ever] regret moving? Why or why not

I regret moving because my mom goes through a lot.

What reason would/could make you go back to where you came from?

I would go back to visit the house and to see what changes have taken place.

Describe your first job here. If you didn't have one, where did you get money?

My first job was a babysitter.

Is there anything you would like to add?

Africa is not what people think it is we: don't live in a jungle, we have a house just like everybody in the US.